Preparations for our summer camp normally start months in advance beginning with registration, programming, enlisting the counselors and organizing the bussing from different locations both...Read more »

From March 13th - 16th, a group of 30 Israeli teenagers embarked on a Journey to engage with diversity and become closer together. The unique opportunity of this Journey rests in the fact that...Read more »

'Applying Virginia Satir's Model to creating mutual curiosity and developing partnership between Palestinian-Arab and Jewish citizens of Israel'
They are provisionally called Therapists for Peace,...Read more »

As in the past 24 years, we held our Summer Peace Camp in July for three weeks (1st to 22nd July). For Jews and Arabs to meet from an early age is absolutely essential if one is not to fall into the...Read more »

Together, heart to heart, we will open new light in the sky…when the heart opens, it embraces the world…it is not too late if we believe.

We wish to share with you, our dear friends, a beautiful letter we received from the parents of Yael, who participated in our summer camp this year for the first time.

Today, several weeks after the end of the summer camp, with added perspective, we wish to thank you for an enjoyable, safe and cohesive summer camp, which our daughter Yael had the privilege to attend.

Moreover, the possibility to create a direct encounter with children from another culture/language/customs and perspectives has contributed to Yael’s openness and acceptance of the other. This is not a trivial privilege in the present Israeli reality.

As inhabitants of this land which is full of contradictions, controversies and gaps, we have an obligation to make every possible effort to bridge the differences which separate us.

You have made it possible for the children to meet each other in an enjoyable way which has left them with the desire for “more”. This good learning experience will deepen the desire in their hearts to get to know and accept the other before prejudice/rumor/stigma spoil the basis for cooperation.

Our heartfelt thanks to the administration and staff, the counselors and everyone who took part in the organization of the summer camp and did it in the best possible way. Thank you for the investment, the dedication, the personal attention to each child, the professionalism and the endless caring.

In the hope of continued enjoyable encounters in the future,

Vered and Eyal Hay

Mishmar Ayalon

Shalom, Salaam, and Shanah Tovah (Happy New Year) from Dalia, Khader, Vivian, Miriam, Raphael, Bissan, Lamis, Majda, Johanna, Andriana and all of us who work and volunteer for Open House in Israel and around the world, including the Friends of Open House team in the U.S – Yehezkel, Richard, Randy, Gary, Danya, and Diane.

For updates, photos and videos from our activities and latest events, you’re welcome to pay a visit to our website: www.friendsofopenhouse.org.